| In Australia alone, the video games industry is worth about $1.5 billion a year, a figure estimated to rise to $2.2 billion by 2013. As computer games migrate from the pricey games consoles (Microsoft's XBox, Sony's Playstation and Nintendo's Wii) to the mobile phone, Australian developers are in the perfect position to achieve success from the industry's worldwide explosion.More than 2 billion applications have been purchased from the digital store since it opened for business in July last year creating a huge market virtually overnight. The technological advances in home computing means, an entrepreneur with a great idea and some creative vision, can create a multi-million dollar idea from their bedroom.The reason Australian gaming entrepreneurs are making more money than ever before?They no longer have to work through middlemen, the publishers, to market and distribute their games. A lot of local developers started out with a fee-for-service arrangement with international companies and consequently Australian developers didn't own the rights to the games, nor did they stand to benefit substantially financially.The launch of the App Store, which allows developers to publish their own games, has revolutionised the games world. An online user rating system markets the product and through social networks like Facebook and Twitter the word of mouth factor is boosted guaranteeing major earning potential if it gains popularity.According to Film Victoria Chief Sandra Sdraulig, online and wireless games are growing exponentially, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. So much so, Sdraulig hosted an international conference at Federation Square last month dedicated to digital distribution - the selling of games online or on mobile phone networks, rather than in stores.And Film Victoria is fanning the flames of the gaming gold rush by announcing at last month's conference the $500,000 Downloadable Games Initiative, which will provide funding of up to $75,000 per project to support the development of prototype games for online and wireless distribution.The fact that a user has to be committed to a game to pay the $50 or so a typical console game costs, has put the new breed of gaming entrepreneur ahead of the existing pack from the outset. Thanks to smart technology, buying a game for an interactive phone is relatively easy. A few taps on the touchscreen keypad and within moments you're shooting zombies or landing aeroplanes to the sound of “GoodShow!” and racking up high scores. By survey it is a far more entertaining and spontaneously rewarding experience for the user than a trip to a shop. Jeremy Ray, presenter of ABC-TV's cult show Good Game, is of the opinion that while the Australian development scene has had a rollercoaster of ups and downs in the past few years, digital distribution opens brand new exciting doors and opportunities. According to Ray the greatest recent success story comes out of Melbourne in the form of video game developer Infinite Interactive. Steve Fawkner's team created the worldwide hit Puzzle Quest, and it's with the smaller, casual games that there's massive potential.But it’s not only the small guys who are exploding. Tony Lay, the chief of Southbank-based IronMonkey Studios, says that despite the economic downturn they have more than doubled their staff in three months from 20 to 44 positions.IronMonkey's sucesses include work on Sims 3, one of the App Store's highest grossing games, and Lay expects more to follow, both for IronMonkey and other Australian developers to achieve success. And as the market expands and technology advances, the gaming gold rush grows.About Polaris Media GroupThe Polaris Media Group mission is to help men and women achieve success and gain financial independence by providing effective educational materials and events that enhance self confidence and grow self reliance. The programs are based on the real possibility that individuals can create an improved lifestyle through an understanding of entrepreneurial skills and application of wealth creation strategies. We believe that the individual has the ability to realize their inherent potential and live a life of personal fulfillment. For more information, visit http://www.polarismediagroup.com |
